Mushroom Foraging

11:00am to 3:30pm VINS Nature Center General Public: $70, VINS Members: $63 Register Today Spring is the time of year when nature reveals its bounty and when foragers eagerly await the arrival of many edible wild foods including fiddleheads, ramps and morels. There are so many delicious wild edible plants and fungi; it can be intimidating to know where to start. Whether you consider yourself an experienced forager or are interested in learning the basics, join VINS for an adventure this spring. VINS will host The Mushroom Hunting Foundation founders, Ryan Bouchard and Emily Schmidt, for a unique workshop. Beginning with a slideshow, Bouchard and Schmidt will cover all the basics of mushroom science and safety, explain the best species of the season and will then focus on the ones considered “safe for beginners.” Afterwards, the group will hike into the forest for a guided mushroom hunting experience. Presenters will demonstrate tools and tricks of the trade as mushrooms are collected – some for study, some for recipes. For the grand finale, we will return to the VINS Classroom for a delicious cooking demonstration, where participants can enjoy the astonishingly varied flavors of several gourmet mushroom snacks. This is sure to be an unforgettable experience! Pre-registration required by Tuesday, May 28. Participants should dress for hiking in the woods and bring lunch and water. About the Presenters: Ryan T. Bouchard is the author and photographer of the groundbreaking new book Gourmet Mushrooms of the Northeast 2019. Emily Schmidt also studies our local mushroom species and their nutritional values, and teaches creative cooking that highlights their many unique flavors. Together, they created The Mushroom Hunting Foundation along with educating thousands of people about safely enjoying America’s wild mushrooms.